Committee on Assignments approves rules, adopts amendment easing sponsor timing requirement

The Committee on Assignments approved its recommended 2023–24 committee rules and adopted a change to rule 10 meant to make it clearer that committee members may offer amendments during a meeting if the chairman waives the two‑hour advance requirement for sponsors. The committee adopted the amendment by voice vote after Representative Evans moved the change and Representative Oliver seconded.

The amendment, proposed by Representative Evans and accepted as a friendly amendment, would insert language after the word "sponsor" specifying that the sponsor-of-the-bill timing requirement does not apply "unless waived by the chairman." "So that it's clear that if you're bringing a bill to this committee and you're gonna try to amend it, you need to come with those amendments 2 hours ahead of time," Evans said, while arguing the rule should not constrain committee members seeking to amend on the floor. The chair indicated the language was a fair modification and asked Evans to put it in motion form; Evans supplied the wording and the committee approved it.

Chairman Pirkle then moved to approve the rules as amended; a second was recorded and the committee voted in favor by voice. The meeting record reflects voice votes and does not list individual roll-call votes.

The committee chair told members they will receive pre-meeting materials roughly 24 to 48 hours before sessions to allow time for review and questions. "We're gonna do everything we can to get you guys pre materials about 24 to 48 hours prior to the meeting," the chair said, adding the vice chair and secretary would be prepared to answer questions in advance. The chair closed the meeting following an opening invocation led by Chairman Pirkle.

The organizational meeting focused on internal procedures and did not record separate substantive policy deliberations or formal referrals.